chopstick voicing

[Susan Kline]

Isaac, it's too bad that there's all that water between Oregon
and France -- it would be fun to watch and listen while you
voiced.

Susan

At 09:10 PM 3/17/2003 +0100, you wrote:
>Suzan,
>
>While I use the chopstick a little , I was instructed to try to avoid
>needling (even with one needle) without beginning a little lower than
>the crown, and staying firm enough to feel the knots or hard spots
>efficiently, what I was not yet able to do with the chopstick.
>
>I noticed too that the result is holding better if the string by
>string voicing is done still considering the crown as a whole, and
>trying to keep some firmness on the outer layers, while cutting the
>hardness of the attack working a little lower than I thought.
>
>If the top can stay resilient enough, and the edge of the strings mark
>have a good rebound from under , we avoid hardness of the attack while
>keeping much power, if you see what I mean. That is supposed to be
>obtained while beginning always lower than it seem necessary.
>The aspect of the hammer tells me also if a part can be needled more
>or no.
>I even sawn needling the top regions while checking on the adjacent
>hammers to feel if the material have well the same consistence under
>the needles.
>
>As I became more experienced with voicing and understood that these
>things are not lasting so much generally, I have gained a better firm
>stroke without the hesitation that kills the tone without much good.
>That's like playing light staccato notes on a keyboard we give the
>impulse, aiming for a place just above the front punching) and the key
>goes down itself alone for the rest of the stroke. That is a fairly
>good feeling I may say, if the tool don't rebound because of hardness
>we know the hard spot is there, a whole keyboard can be equalized in a
>very short time if one is confident in his feel (but not over
>enthusiastic for sure).
>
>So I finally understood that it is a matter of attitude, and probably
>trying to do the less possible as been said yet.
>
>Was first shown that by an American technician working for Steinway in
>France, so I guess the approach is may be similar for you.
>
>
>But I may confess I always try to keep a lot of brilliance, even if I
>hide it under a mellow beginning of the tone. Have ruined too much
>crowns before !
>
>Well I'll stop explaining my life now  !
>
>Thanks for your description and bests !
>
>Isaac OLEG
>
>Entertain et reparation de pianos.